This is a hard book to rate, because it's such an all-or-nothing proposition. If Mr. Cornuke's theories are correct, then this is a definite must-readThis is a hard book to rate, because it's such an all-or-nothing proposition. If Mr. Cornuke's theories are correct, then this is a definite must-read deserving of five stars. If, however, his ideas are completely off base, then the book should be rated one star and probably tossed in the garbage.Problem is, at present, there is no way to gauge the authenticity of Cornuke's claims, as he himself readily admits. All we really end up with are a couple of very intriguing possibilities regarding the current whereabouts of the ark of the covenant and its potential role in fulfilling Bible prophecy.As is usual with Cornuke's books, IN SEARCH OF THE LOST ARK OF THE COVENANT is a very quick, easy read considering its complicated subject matter. It doesn't come across as very scholarly, but it sure makes you want to take a greater interest in biblical archaeology. As with his search for Mt. Sinai, Cornuke is following in the footsteps of an initial explorer widely known to be a total kook. With Mt. Sinai, it was pseudo-archeologist Ron Wyatt. With the ark of the covenant, it's British author Graham Hancock, who has also written books on topics like Atlantis, life on Mars, and Freemasonry.A good theory is a good theory regardless of who first proposes it, but I find it a bit odd that Cornuke never addresses the unreliability of his primary sources. Cornuke's assertion is that the ark of the covenant is currently residing in Ethiopia, a theory that makes a surprising amount of sense but which is entirely based on circumstantial evidence, local tradition, and eyewitness testimonies from people who may not be credible.Still, it's a fun ride, and Cornuke makes a pretty strong case, all things considered. I feel that he is reaching when it comes to his interpretations of certain Bible verses, but, overall, I think he may be onto something. Plus, this book was worth reading just for the insight it gave me into Ethiopian culture. Sadly, it was only a short time ago that I couldn't even locate Ethiopia on a map.If you don't feel like checking the book out for yourself, try watching the documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9VB-......more

Reads like a cross between James Clavell and Robert Ludlum. ONI is a sprawling, intricately plotted epic thriller--one that requires a good deal of meReads like a cross between James Clavell and Robert Ludlum. ONI is a sprawling, intricately plotted epic thriller--one that requires a good deal of mental effort, but which rewards you for your patience.Superficially, the plot is very exciting: a burned-out Special Forces vet joins with a U.S. congresswoman in trying to take down Japan's biggest conglomerate, which secretly took part in WW2 atrocities and now has influential ties with the U.S. government. This Japanese conglomerate may have a traitor in its midst, but it is also protected by the most lethal and heartless assassin in all the world: a man so evil, he is known as "Oni," a Japanese demon.Sounds thrilling, right? Well, it is. But it's also surprisingly slow. About 60% of this book is backstory, mostly detailing the personal histories of the principal characters. In fact, author Marc Olden spends so much time on this stuff, that ONI winds up being more of a character study than an action thriller. Imagine something like the movie MAGNOLIA, only with ninjas and lots of torture and bloodshed. The plot of this book is so complicated and carefully intertwined that you really have to stay on your toes to make complete sense of it all. About two-thirds of the way through, Olden gives a recap of everything that has happened up to that point, as though even he doesn't trust in the reader's ability to keep up....more

I'm always curious when writers of nasty, hardcore horror novels produce something intended for children. A couple weeks ago, I read Richard Laymon'sI'm always curious when writers of nasty, hardcore horror novels produce something intended for children. A couple weeks ago, I read Richard Laymon's THE HALLOWEEN MOUSE and thoroughly enjoyed it for what it was, and now I wanted to see what a kids' book by the Supreme Lord Sicko himself, Edward Lee, would look like.Surprisingly, it looks just like an actual kids' book. No scenes of rape or torture anywhere to be found.MONSTER LAKE could easily be an entry in the GOOSEBUMPS series. It's a little scary, but probably not enough to inspire nightmares in your small children. As an adult, I found it a bit dull and hokey, but still way better than most books aimed at the age 8-12 demographic. It was entertaining enough for me to forgive it for having such a preposterous ending. ...more

This one of several books chronicling Bob Cornuke and Larry Williams' journeys to Jebel al-Lawz, a mountain that many people consider to be the biblicThis one of several books chronicling Bob Cornuke and Larry Williams' journeys to Jebel al-Lawz, a mountain that many people consider to be the biblical Mt. Sinai. Though the book tends to give the impression that Cornuke and Williams were the "discoverers" of Jebel al-Lawz's possible ties to the Exodus, the truth is they were pointed in the right direction by a previous expedition led by amateur archeologist Ron Wyatt, whose work regarding such biblical artifacts as Noah's Ark is widely considered to be fraudulent (so, it's no surprise that Wyatt is given only a single mention). Cornuke also admits that, in Saudi Arabia, the mountain's identity as Mt. Sinai is considered common knowledge, and therefore the only real "discovery" in this book is Cornuke's seemingly successful attempt to trace the exact Exodus route all the way from Jebel al-Lawz in Saudi Arabia back to where it originated in ancient Egypt.Despite this book not being a scholarly work by any means, Cornuke makes a strong argument for his case, especially considering how little time he actually spent exploring the area (he and his traveling partner must have been given a heads-up on what to look out for). Despite the relative ease with which Cornuke seems to make one important discovery after another in a very short period of time, I found his presentation of the material to be quite convincing. By the end of the book, I felt positive that Jebel al-Lawz was indeed the real Mt. Sinai.Ah, but then I went online and read some arguments in opposition to Cornuke's thesis, most of which were put forth by biblical scholar Gordon Franz. At some point, the back-and-forth debate got very technical, and I would need a doctorate in Bible history to sort out whose information is correct, Cornuke's or Franz's.So, ultimately, I'm not qualified to have an opinion on whether this book's main premise is accurate. Sure is fun to speculate, though.As for the book itself, I found it something of a mixed bag. In order to make it more fun, Cornuke recounts his explorations in such a way that I almost felt I was reading an Allan Quatermain novel rather than a book on biblical archaeology. The upside is that IN SEARCH OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD will hold the attention of even the most casual readers, but the downside is that the book sometimes feels heavy on adventure and light on facts. I also got tired of Cornuke constantly reminding me of what an accomplished and gutsy dude he is. Please, Mr. Cornuke, I can figure that out for myself. But I must say, for a self-styled "international adventurer," Mr. Cornuke sure seems out of his element in foreign countries. When he's not throwing out his back or getting lost in the desert, he's carelessly walking into minefields (literally) and stupidly getting his local contact in trouble with the authorities. The low point of the book is when Cornuke and Williams have a footrace to prove who is manlier--a childish competition which Cornuke wins with bad grace (by recounting it in the book) and Williams loses with even worse grace.It's a fun book to read if you're into these sorts of adventures, but not good enough to warrant all the different versions that have been published. In addition to this volume, Cornuke has written RELIC QUEST, which is a slight variation of the same thing. THE GOLD OF EXODUS by Howard Blum is another account of Cornuke and Williams' adventure, and Williams himself wrote THE MOUNTAIN OF MOSES (later retitled THE MOUNT SINAI MYTH) chronicling the exact same trip. Not only does this feel like a bit of a cash grab, but the result is that certain minor discrepancies arise and cast a shadow on the overall narrative. For example, it seems clear that Cornuke has a tendency to exaggerate for dramatic effect. Honestly, you're better off just watching the documentary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICBv1...) and calling it a night. ...more

You can disagree with Chesterton's opinions, but there's no disagreeing with his style and wit. The man was a genius, and each essay in this collectioYou can disagree with Chesterton's opinions, but there's no disagreeing with his style and wit. The man was a genius, and each essay in this collection (or in any of his collections) reads like a tour de force. The only reason I give it four stars rather than five is because a few of the topics are dated and probably of little interest to anyone other than the Brits. As far as I'm concerned, however, Chesterton can write about any ol' thing he pleases, and I'll happily gobble it up....more

BLACK FRIDAY has a pretty good story concept, but the execution is just awful, making it the dumbest smart thriller I've ever read. Imagine THE DAY OFBLACK FRIDAY has a pretty good story concept, but the execution is just awful, making it the dumbest smart thriller I've ever read. Imagine THE DAY OF THE JACKAL if it had been written by the author of FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY, and you'll have some idea of what I mean. The dialog is trash, the characters are B-movie stereotypes, the action is ridiculous, and everything that happens is taken to silly, unbelievable extremes in a constant attempt to artificially raise the stakes. The book is so desperate to be the most adrenaline-charged novel of the '80s that any degree of depth or emotional resonance gets left by the wayside.Regular Patterson readers will note that the main character, Arch Carroll, shares a good many characteristics with series-regular Michael Bennett, and there's even a Mary Katherine around to take care of his kids.As bad as it is, BLACK FRIDAY could have been worse. The frantic pacing keeps things from getting TOO boring, and the plot has enough potential that I can't help but wish it had been entrusted to a more gifted author....more

Informative, but also the most repetitive book I've ever read. TERROR TUNNELS is a collection of independent essays culled from various newspapers, whInformative, but also the most repetitive book I've ever read. TERROR TUNNELS is a collection of independent essays culled from various newspapers, which means that each chapter exists in a vacuum and is therefore oblivious of the information that came beforehand.Dershowitz eloquently describes how the terrorist group Hamas has intentionally put Palestinian civilians in harm's way so that, whenever these civilians are tragically hurt or killed, the international media can take plenty of gruesome photos and make the Israeli government look like a bunch of big meanie heads for simply protecting themselves from Hamas' rockets and kidnapping tunnels. The notion that Hamas is responsible for last year's violence in the Gaza Strip strikes me as absurdly obvious, yet a disturbing amount of people would prefer to heap blame on the soldiers who accidentally kill hostages than on the hostage-takers responsible for endangering their lives in the first place. Dershowitz also shows how the recent criticism of Israel's self-defense policy is hopelessly steeped in hypocrisy, naiveté, and blatant anti-Semitism (sadly on the rise once again).I don't necessarily recommend reading the whole book, due to the constant repetion of every single fact and opinion. But, if you can get this from a library, definitely take a look at the introduction, as well as the debate transcript at the very end. A debate in which Dershowitz absolutely destroys his esteemed opponent on this issue. ...more

If you've ever watched TV shows like CRIMINAL MINDS or WITHOUT A TRACE, you'll know exactly what to expect from PRETTY LITTLE THINGS. In terms of storIf you've ever watched TV shows like CRIMINAL MINDS or WITHOUT A TRACE, you'll know exactly what to expect from PRETTY LITTLE THINGS. In terms of story, it brings nothing new to the table.And yet, this novel is actually quite gripping. Clearly, author Jilliane Hoffman gave this book her all, and her passion for this story is infectious. Hoffman's legal background goes a long way toward making the law enforcement elements seem authentic, and she writes her characters in a manner that is remarkably convincing, whether they be gruff policemen, deranged killers, terrified mothers, or texting tweens. And, apart from the occasional awkward sentence, the prose in this book is of a much higher caliber than what you'd expect from a police procedural.Which isn't to say that PRETTY LITTLE THINGS is perfect by any stretch of the imagination. For one thing, it's a bit too long, and certain elements (like the bad guy's obsession with church sermons about lust) seem thrown in for no reason other than to pad the story. Another small problem is that, in the world of 2015, the story comes across as rather dated, despite having been written only five or six years previous. For example, everybody in the novel uses MySpace rather than Facebook, and the author treats social networking like some brand new thing that adults haven't discovered yet. Nothing wrong with a book being a product of its time, except that PRETTY LITTLE THINGS is almost desperate in the way it tries to feel current. Ultimately, though, all the references to things like TWILIGHT and the Jonas brothers only serve to remind readers just how much the world has moved on. On a final note, there are a couple of major plot twists that, frankly, feel like cheating. One involves the identity of the killer, and the other is the resolution of the subplot involving the main character's own missing daughter.PRETTY LITTLE THINGS has its share of problems, yes. But it's crafted well enough that only a real killjoy would be unwilling to overlook them. ...more

Barely three stars. I like what the author has to say, but not the way she says it. It's a halfway decent book if you're a member of the choir, but MsBarely three stars. I like what the author has to say, but not the way she says it. It's a halfway decent book if you're a member of the choir, but Ms. Loesch's antagonistic tone will drive away anyone who hasn't already made up their mind on this issue.HANDS OFF MY GUN isn't nearly as informative as I thought it would be, especially if you've been listening to all those gun debates on Fox News and CNN. Much of what Ms. Loesch has to say is blindingly obvious. For example, she devotes a whole chapter to proving that Obama is no friend of the Second Amendment--as if there are still people in this country who haven't figured that out already. There is also an incredible amount of repetition, especially in the last chapter, which is really just a slight paraphrasing of paragraphs culled from earlier in the book. It frustrated me how much Ms. Loesch repeats herself, whether it's re-using the same quotes, the same anecdotes, the same statistics, or the same jokes. The result is that it makes her argument seem weak by giving the impression that she's scrounging for material. One funny line, about how liberals think that painting a gun black and adding accessories makes it "shootier" and more "assault-y," gets repeated at least three or four times. Another way that she makes her argument seem weak is by occasionally misrepresenting the views of her opponents. For example, she mentions one liberal who stated (somewhat reasonably, I thought) that carrying a gun could result in making altercations more lethal by tempting people to open fire when being attacked by something relatively non-threatening, like an axe handle or a person's fists. Ms. Loesch thoroughly ridiculed this position, but she did so by changing "axe handle" into "axe." But the aforementioned liberal never said that you shouldn't shoot someone who attacked you with an axe. He said axe handle. Now, even if someone was merely attacking me with an axe handle, I still might feel justified in shooting that person in the leg, depending on the situation. But let's not misquote people who disagree with us and make their position seem more ludicrous than it really is. (To be fair to Ms. Loesch, though, if you don't have a gun to defend yourself from someone with an axe handle, you also won't have one for defending yourself from someone with an axe. So the distinction hardly matters.) There were only about two chapters in the book where I really felt I learned something. One dealt with the racist origins of the gun control movement in America, and the other was a response to the "14 biggest myths" about gun usage. There was another good chapter on statistics proving that increased gun control doesn't deter violent crime, but I can't say I hadn't already heard it all before.The biggest problem with this book is that Ms. Loesch tries to make everything about her. Instead of just giving us the straight facts, she prefers to tell us how she used these facts to score points in Twitter feuds with people like Piers Morgan. (If there's anything in the world that I truly despise, it's Twitter.) I didn't need to know about the author's radio talk show, her days as a blogger, her personal run-ins with Michael Bloomberg's minions, her childhood out in the country, or her controversial guest appearance on THE VIEW. This book has way too much "me, me, me" and "I, I, I" for my taste. Say what you want about Ann Coulter, but at least she doesn't have to personalize everything. She's also a much better writer, much funnier, and much better at citing her sources. HANDS OFF MY GUN often has a slapdash feel to it that makes me suspect it was rushed into production. The proofreading is a joke. Rarely have I encountered a major-release book with so many flagrant typos. The last chapter is so poorly written that I had to re-read several sentences in order to make any sense of them.HANDS OFF MY GUN is a decent enough book for conservatives who want to wade into this debate. However, you'd be better off purchasing Glenn Beck's CONTROL, which gives you most of the same facts in far fewer pages....more

I'm usually not one for childrens' books, but THE HALLOWEEN MOUSE made me smile. I'd definitely buy it for my kids, if I had any. The artwork is greatI'm usually not one for childrens' books, but THE HALLOWEEN MOUSE made me smile. I'd definitely buy it for my kids, if I had any. The artwork is great, and it's fun to see Richard Laymon writing outside his usual wheelhouse....more

THE RED HAWK manages to end the trilogy on a good note, though it never explains why the narrator can recall his past and future lives. For me, that aTHE RED HAWK manages to end the trilogy on a good note, though it never explains why the narrator can recall his past and future lives. For me, that angle was probably the most intriguing thing about the first two MOON books, and I was rather annoyed to find that, here, Burroughs just drops the whole concept entirely, as though hoping that no one would notice his complete failure to resolve the one overarching thread that joins this trilogy together.Apart from that major complaint, however, THE RED HAWK is actually surprisingly good. I like that each of these books has a completely different feel to it, thereby preventing boredom from setting in. The first book was straight sci-fi, the second one felt more like a dystopian novel, and this one is sort of a sci-fi/western hybrid in which Americans have returned to living like Indians in the old West (and, in a politically incorrect twist, the actual remaining Native Americans have all become slaves). There is tons of action and all the usual Burroughs staples: kidnapped princess, brawny hero, alien bad guys, prison break, etc. It's all very been-there-done-that, but whatever. I can think of worse ways to spend a couple of lunch breaks....more

THE CELLAR is trash, but it's the kind of trash you can't help enjoying to certain extent. Like watching one of those RESIDENT EVIL sequels.In order tTHE CELLAR is trash, but it's the kind of trash you can't help enjoying to certain extent. Like watching one of those RESIDENT EVIL sequels.In order to enjoy a book like THE CELLAR, you need to catch yourself in just the right mood. I read it on my office computer during occasional periods of downtime at work, and, in this context, Laymon's punchy one-sentence paragraphs (comfortable to read even on a computer), rapid-fire action, and bizarro storytelling suited my purposes to a tee. I was just looking for something to pass the time, not something to engage with in any meaningful way.So, would I recommend THE CELLAR? Not a chance. But I wouldn't try to warn you away from it, either. It's something you might enjoy reading in the bathtub, or listening to as an audiobook while you clean the house. Just know what you're getting into. THE CELLAR isn't literature; it's a comic book without pictures.On a side note, I don't quite agree with all the reviewers who found this book offensively graphic. Yes, it's a gruesome horror novel, and not written in good taste, but Laymon leaves most of the twisted stuff up to your imagination. The scenes of pedophilia are uncomfortable, but they are damn well supposed to be, and I don't think normal people will see them as anything else.Then there's THE CELLAR's ending. Just wow. Almost as though Laymon went out of his way to make sure that none of the story threads paid off. Definitely don't read this if you hate being suckered in by a bad ending. Luckily (?), by this point, I've gotten used to Laymon's penchant for terrible endings and become a little more forgiving. ...more

"Overwrought" is perhaps the best way to describe this novel--a novel that makes goth music seem cheerful by comparison. Normally, I love Graham Green"Overwrought" is perhaps the best way to describe this novel--a novel that makes goth music seem cheerful by comparison. Normally, I love Graham Greene, but this one left me cold. Much of it is dull and unsatisfying, with unlikable characters to boot. The narrative is unrelentingly grim, and the story, which revolves around everybody making everyone else miserable, plods forward like a man on his way to the gallows.On the other hand, from a prose standpoint, the writing superb, as you'd expect from Greene. It's also unflinchingly honest--startlingly so--in how it deals with subjects like love, morality, and religion in extremely thought-provoking ways. Make no mistake, this is one fresh and perceptive piece of work. Yeah, I may have found it dull and frustrating overall, but I won't argue its brilliance.Part of the problem is that I can't help but compare this to THE END OF THE AFFAIR, which is another depressing romance, penned by Greene, dealing with love and religion. It's also one of my favorite books of all time.But THE HEART OF THE MATTER simply pales in comparison. Why? Well, because the central tragedy of the book is simply that a man who tries to please everybody (including God) ends up pleasing no one. Seem like common sense, right? Sure, there's a love element involved, but it's a sickly kind of love that feels more like fatal resignation than romance. Like GONE GIRL, it's the kind of book that will make you want to never get married.Though, I must give THE HEART OF THE MATTER credit: there are some great scenes scattered throughout. And what I love about Greene is that he really "gets" how religious people think while still being able to sympathize with the atheist perspective. He never patronizes his readers with supposedly easy answers to incredibly difficult existential questions. ...more

This is basically JOHN CARTER OF MARS meets Ayn Rand. Burroughs does a great job detailing the subjugation of the human race by alien creatures from tThis is basically JOHN CARTER OF MARS meets Ayn Rand. Burroughs does a great job detailing the subjugation of the human race by alien creatures from the moon. However, in typical Burroughs fashion, the hero is over-the-top. After discovering that he has been blessed with amazing super-strength (no explanation given), this hero goes through the rest of the book rescuing people, breaking out of prisons, wrestling with bulls, taming wild horses, leading revolutions, romancing a beautiful maiden, and breaking bad guys' necks. All this action might have been exciting were it not so lazy. For example, during the first prison break scene, our hero is able to escape by simply climbing on top of a shed and jumping over the fence. When one of the guards sees him and tries to shoot, the guard's gun jams. How convenient!The book also has a very weak ending. Sort of like watching an alternate version of BRAVEHEART in which William Wallace and his ragtag army never make it past their first battle. ...more

A novella and a handful of stories--some good, some bad. Overall, entertaining enough for those who appreciate mayhem for mayhem's sake. Laymon's pervA novella and a handful of stories--some good, some bad. Overall, entertaining enough for those who appreciate mayhem for mayhem's sake. Laymon's pervy writing style gets old after awhile, and the endings to some of these stories are incredibly stupid, but there's a certain maniacal energy to Laymon's work that commands your attention and keeps you coming back for more. ...more